Shoe last for the correction of certain ailments of the human foot



Nov; 1929. 4', (:REELMAN I SHOE LAST FOR THE CORRECTION OF CERTAIN AILMEN'I'S OF THE HUMAN FOOT I Filed July 192v Patented Nov. 12, 1929 I UNHTED STATES PATENT oerrcs JAMES ALVAH CREELMAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS SHOE LAST FOR THE CORRECTION OF CERTAIN AILMENTS or II-IE HUMAN EooT Application filed July 29,

' This invention relates to lasts for use in making shoes to be worn as correctives of and relief of ailments to which the human foot is subject, such as fallen or weakened metatarsal arches and weak, fallen, flexible or fiat longitudinal arches. I

An object of the invention is to provide an improved shoe last for the purpose mentioned having its bottom of novel configuration' comprising recessed and inclined portions designed and adapted to receive inserts and wedges to be placed under the insole of the shoe and located rearwardly of the heads of the metatarsal bones and forwardly from part of the heel bones of the foot for which the shoe is intended.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved shoe last embodying the novel construction and capable of the advantageous uses of the shoe last herein disclosed, reference being made to the'accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is an under side view of my improved last having the shoe insert element thereon.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the last'with part in section.

Figs. 3 and the lines 3+3 and 4 -4, respectively, of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the insert wedge element.

Fig. 6 is a side edge elevation of the insert 7 wedge element.

The last shown comprises a heel portion 1 and a front portion 2 held in proper cooperative relationship by a pivotal connection 3.

I modify the under side of this last from usual or standard construction by forming in the front portion 2 of the last a recess 4 which is concave in cross section and which con tinues through a shallow centrally disposed channel 5 to a beveled surface 6 inclining upwardly and forwardly from near the rear outer corner of the last to intersection with the inner side. This beveled surface is formed in the under side of the heel portion of the shoe at an inclination of about 35, more or less. The said beveled surface may be extended on the under side of the front portion of the last if desired, as will be readily understood by reference to Fig. 2 of the drawing.

4 are cross sectional views on 1927-. 'Seria1No.209,3.76.

The beveled surface 6 begins near the rear end of the heel portion 1 of the last and becomes more pronounced toward the'front end of the heel portion of the last. That is tosay, there is very slight bevel at the rear end of the heel portion and in side elevation of the last the intersection of the bevel with the inner side of the last is arcuate, as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing. The arcuate bevel is 6X5 tended on the under side of the rear end of l the front portion of the last as shown in connection with the shallow centrally disposed channel 5. e v This novel configuration of the under side of the last is designed and adapted to receive an insert device, as shown. The insert device shown comprises a section of 'material including a relatively wide front end portion 7 and a wide rear end portion 8, said front and rear portions being connected by a comparatively narrow porti0n'9. The front portion 7 is thickened by a section 10 of pliable material to fill the recess 4 and therebyprovide a raised insert in the sole of the shoe slightly posterior to the heads of the metatarsal bones so as to support and correct a flattened or weakened metatarsal arch. And a wedge 11 of pliable material is attached to the rear portion 8 and fills the beveled area 6 while the longitudinally relatively narrow and thin portion 9 fills the relatively narrow longitudinal grooved portion 5 of the last. In this way weak, fallen, flexible or fiat longitudinal arches are corrected and relieved by the same insert and wedge device which affords relief for the fallen or weakened metatarsal arch.

In themanufacture of the shoethe insole may be placed on or under the insert and Wedge device described in a manner to afford maximumease and comfort to the wearer.

It is apparent that the invention may be varied within equivalent limits as to dimensions without departure from the nature and principle thereof. J

Accordingly, I do not restrict myself in these or other unessential particulars, but what I claim and'desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A last having the under side of the heel portion inclining upwardly in an arcuate 100 bevel from near the outer side to intersection with the inner side of said heel portion and being of greater upward incline toward the front end of the heel portion, and having a concave recess in the under side of the front portion thereof posterior to the heads of the metatarsal bones of the foot 'for which a shoe made on the last is intended. 1 2. A shoe last having a concavity int'he un- 10 der side thereof rearwardly of the plane of the heads or" the metatarsal bones of a human foot for which the last is designed for use in V making shoes andhaving the under side of its heel portion inclined upwardly from near the 15 outer side to intersection with the inner side "in advance of the rear end of the last, the up-- ward inclination at the under side of said heel portion increasing frolnnear the rear end of said heel portion forwardly.

, JAMES ALV AI-I oRE LMAN, 

